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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Kids Sewing April 2017


Brynn
Norah
Paige

Samantha
Sophie


Addison
Kara



     It has been a busy school year with teaching.  Between January and February I had seven new girls join me in after school sewing.  They have all completed their sewing bags and are working on another project from their book.  Welcome to Sophie, Paige, Brynn, Samantha, Kara, Addison and Norah.

Loren
Veronica


Aviva
Grace



    In my first Tuesday class I have Loren , Veronica, Aviva and Grace.  Loren did the skirt in the book with a twist.  We used a yoke and added a pleated piece to the bottom.  No slit was necessary.  Veronica made the skirt to pattern and Aviva and Grace are showing their sport shorts from book 2.

Michelle
Arabella

Ellie

     Michelle, Arabella and Ellie are in my second Tuesday group.  Michelle is proudly showing off her sport shirt while Arabella is modeling her nightshirt.  Ellie is holding a pair of Froot Loop pants.


Lindsey
Ashley



     Lindsey and Ashley are in my Wednesday group.  Lindsey is showing her whale tote and Ashley is holding her denim skirt.

Hailey and her peasant nightgown
Makayla and her round neck blouse


Reese and her shorts
Maria and her pants



     Hailey, Makayla, Reese and Maria all were also part of my sewing this year.  It has been a busy year with lots of smiles.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Easter Dress

Easter dress


     My daughter asked if I could make an Easter dress for her daughter.  Of course I said yes.  She went shopping but was disappointed that she couldn't find any eyelet fabric.  No problem, I had some in my stash.

Dress pattern


     We made some changes to the dress.  We used the white fabric she bought as lining and did both the bodice and sleeves in the eyelet with lining.  On the skirt part I made a separate piece for the center front pleat.  I layered the eyelet over the purple print fabric and then put it back together.  The dress was constructed as per the directions.  I found some green ribbon in my stash for the bow.

Doll dress


     Of course since she has a Cabbage Patch doll, grandma had to make a matching dress for the doll. I found some eyelet trim in my stash and I was all set.  The patterns I have for the doll clothes are from when my children had the dolls and played with them.

Doll dress pattern


     I wanted to get a picture of my granddaughter and her doll but being a stubborn 2 year old, it was not to be.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Pillowcases for Miles

New Years, Valentines and Mardi Gras

     Number three grandchild turns one in a couple of weeks.  For their first birthdays I make a year of pillowcases.  I have so much fun picking out the fabrics each time.  I do shop my stash first and then head to the quilt stores.

St Patrick's, Easter and summer


     For these pillowcases I shopped as I was headed to my annual quilting retreat last year.  I already knew the sex of the baby to be so I was able to pick out fabrics more gender specific.  I know not too PC but I don't care.  The two shops I always go to are Patched Works in Elm Grove, WI and Mill House Quilts in Waunakee, WI.

Fourth of July, baseball and football


     The band of the pillowcase is 10 inches  I embroider the name in the upper left quadrant with the bottom of the lettering facing the center of the fabric.  The accent strip is 2 inches, pressed in half.  The main body of the pillowcase is 27 inches.  These are cut across the width of the fabric.

Back to School, Halloween and birthday


     To sew them, I place the band piece right side up on the table.  Then I place the accent strip along the top edge with raw edges even.  Next the  main fabric gets placed on top, again with raw edges even and right side down.  At each step I pin the pieces.  Then I roll the main fabric into a tube and bring the bottom edge of the band up to meet the top edge of the band.  All the fabric is now inside this 'hotdog' bun.  I pin it all and then sew with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press, turn by pulling the fabric out from one end.  Press again and then trim to make the sides even as not all fabrics are the same width.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and one to match his first quilt


     Then with wrong side together I sew with a narrow 1/8" seam allowance.  Press and turn and now with right sides together, sew with a 1/2" seam allowance.  Press and turn again.  One final pressing and you now have a fun pillowcase with no raw edges anywhere.  Happy Birthday Baby Miles


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Bible Cover


Materials for the project


     A client had asked me to duplicate a cover for her bible that had a zippered closing and handle.  I did that for her.  Now she wanted a similar cover for her smaller bible.  Unfortunately is it so thin that it was not possible to have a zipper all around.

Front with button flap closure


     We opted instead to go with a flap that buttoned on the front and a zippered pocket on the back.  She chose this Sunbrella fabric from my stash.  I drafted a pattern for the cover and then stitched in together.

Back with zippered pocket


     I found a zipper and button in my stash that matched and added a lop of elastic cord for the closure.  The cover fits like a glove and should protect her bible for years to come.